After Delaware and Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution, other states began considering their options. Some states were not sure if signing the Constitution was in their best interest. In an attempt to persuade the eleven other states to ratify, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay (mostly Hamilton and Madison though) wrote the eighty-five essays known as the Federalist Papers. They were published in New York newspapers. The esteemed authors were referred to as “publius”.

The Federalist Papers is considered one of the greatest contributions to American democracy, Federalism and governmental theory.

The Federalist Papers was extremely effective in outlining both the defects of the Articles of Confederation and the advantages of the newly proposed Constitution as advocated by the authors. Alexander Hamilton, in particular, was instrumental in explaining the functions of the three branches of the new government – the executive, legislative and judicial. In addition, the authors enumerate important aspects of a functioning government such as a system of checks and balances (so no individual gets too much power), federalism (a system where there is a central government and regional governments), separated powers, pluralism (a system in which there are multiple sources of power) and representation.

Some call the Federalist Papers the greatest public relations campaign in history. Only two years after the papers were published, Rhode Island became the last of the colonies to ratify.

Why did Hamilton, Madison, and Jay write the Federalist Papers?
1. To convince Pennsylvania and Delaware to ratify the Constitution
2. To convince the other states to consider their options
3. To convince the other states to ratify the Constitution
4. To establish “Publius” as esteemed authors
What does “enumerate” mean as used in the following sentence?

In addition, the authors enumerate important aspects of a functioning government such as a system of checks and balances (so no individual gets too much power), federalism, separated powers, pluralism and representation.
1. Depart
2. Debate
3. Decide
4. List
The Federalist Papers…
1. was written as a replacement for the Articles of Confederation.
2. effectively outlined what was flawed about the Articles of Confederation.
3. was written to explain the Articles of Confederation.
4. was written to add to the volumes of governmental theory.
Which of the following is an accurate reflection of the Federalist Papers?
1. The essays were largely written by Hamilton and Madison with a minor contribution from John Jay.
2. The essays were largely written by Hamilton with minor contributions from Madison and Jay.
3. The essays were exclusively written by Hamilton and Madison.
4. The essays were written with equal contributions from all three authors.
The authors of the Federalist papers were…
1. ultimately unsuccessful in their original goal.
2. ultimately successful in accomplishing their original goal.
3. partially successful in accomplishing their goal, but only time will tell.
4. not actually consequential to the ratification of the Constitution.
Why do some call the Federalist Papers the “greatest public relations campaign in history?”
1. Because it made sure to include a system of check and balances into the government
2. Because it effectively explained the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the new government
3. Because it made Alexander Hamilton and James Madison two of the most important people in American history
4. Because it had the effect of convincing the remaining states to ratify America’s laws and join together become one country
Which of the following was not explained in the Federalist Papers?
1. That a functioning government has multiple sources of power rather than all of the power invested in a single person
2. That a functioning government can not allow for regional governments
3. That a functioning government requires that power not be controlled by a single person
4. That a functioning government requires a separation of powers.